Exploring the Nexus of Gratitude, Flourishing, and Anxiety in Young Adults

Abstract

Gratitude has been a potent source of happiness for as long as anyone can remember. It is often described as the initial burst that ignites a flame of happiness within us. Positive psychology also holds that supportive social relationships are necessary for human flourishing. Quite recently, the concept of gratitude and flourish dawned on most of us and ignited a way towards a more flourishing lifestyle, which eventually assisted us in alleviating torment and anxiety. Gratitude is the emotion that people feel when they get something as a present or benefit from someone else. It can also refer to the attitude of viewing life as a gift. People who are grateful tend to experience such emotions more frequently, and intensely, towards more and more people, and for additional things in their lives at any given time In essence, gratitude is a widespread feeling of expressing thanks and recognizing the value and significance of things that matter to us. It involves acknowledging what is beneficial and meaningful in our lives. Every single one of us wishes to thrive, no matter what stage we are at in life. Research on gratitude suggests that enjoying the positive things in life contributes to our fulfilment on both a personal and professional level, which invariably leads to a flourished mind-set. The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between gratitude, flourishing and anxiety in young adults. The study enlisted 88 young adults aged between 18-35 years, who were asked to complete standardized measures of gratitude, anxiety, and flourishing. The findings indicated a positive association between gratitude and flourishing, while both were negatively linked with anxiety. Additionally, the t-ratio results showed that women had a higher level of anxiety as compared to men.